The Missionary Vs Christ - 4

Many of us have been touched by the simple life of HG Mathews Mar
Barnabas, Metropolitan of American Diocese. Last year we got a
blessed opportunity to discuss on various topics with Thirumeni.
Thirumeni told us about the beauty of our prayers, the evolution of our
prayer strucure etc, and the need to show Christ's love among all.
While discussing about other religions, religious tolerance etc,
Thirumeni gave us several examples of various Hindus and Muslims
engaged in several social causes, helping their fellow human beings
lead a better life. Thirumeni kept telling us that these works are
nothing but real examples of Gospel work ("Suvishesha Vela"). I
remember Thirumeni quoting Shri Narayana Guru thus "Matham Ethayalum
Manushyan Nannayal Mathi" ("Whichever the religion, the aim is to
better ourselves as human beings"). Criticizing those who bring bad name to
the witness of Christ, Thirumeni said of them "Your life speaks so loudly that
I cannot hear what you say!"
Words of wisdom flow from the mouth of this saintly shepherd. The
missionary of today takes no heed of such advice, as he proclaims
doom and hellfire for the ones who do not heed his words!

HG Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios, Metropolitan of Canada and Europe, is
another precious jewel of our church. Answering a question on our
response to other religions, Thirumeni had two comments:
1) "Since we have grown in a multicultural, multireligious society
in India, we have not been agressive enough in our witness for
Christ. We need to do more."
2) "We must not only tolerate other religions, we must love (people of) other
religions, we must learn from other religions, we must learn to
respect other religions."
Thirumeni is a Professor of Religious Studies in Alma College in
Michigan,USA. Thirumeni teaches Islam to the students there. Thirumeni
spoke of a time when HG had taken his students to a mosque.

I agree cent percent with Makarios Thirumeni. Yes, we have not been
aggressive enough in our witness. In fact, we have been lethargic,
lazy and ignorant of our witness. We have indeed failed in a big way
in our witness. To mask this failure, we are now trying to ape the
Western Protestant "missionaries" in their misplaced zeal.
As Thirumeni said, we need to love and respect other religions.

India is not a spiritually drained wasteland of cannibals and
savages. This is the land that showed the world that non-violence
works even in this era. This is the land of
intelligent, compassionate and spiritually rich fellow citizens who
pride themselves on the religions they practise. We need to
understand the emotional and social heartbeat of the people of the
land. What is needed of the Christians is a great level of tolerance
and patience and prayer. By our lives, we need to display Christ's
life, spreading love and compassion to whoever we come in touch
with, not suspicion, hatred and illwill as does the works of the
missionary of today. What is needed is dialogue, and more dialogue,
with a sincere quest to learn about the truth,
with the humility that we are too small to understand all about the 'Alpha and
the Omega'; not with the self righteous outbursts of the "all knowing"
missionary.

Today, more than ever before, there is growing awareness in these "other"
religions about the result of the wrong doings of the missionary, so we need
to also awaken and decide where we stand.

So-- are you for the Missionary or are you for Christ?

Regards,
Mathew Samuel,
Albany, NY

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/9387